Hot Peppers: Healthy Food that Brings Spice to your Diet

 

Versatile and delicious, sweet peppers add nutrition and flavor to a great many recipes and provide healthy doses of vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants like beta-carotene. Spicy peppers, however, offer an extra boost of health from the exact component that causes the kick, capsaicin. While all types of peppers are healthy food, once you discover the health benefits of hot peppers you’ll want to incorporate them into your cooking every day.

• The capsaicin found in hot peppers has been shown to break the cycle of cluster headaches and provide migraine relief. The fiery compound is also known to clear the sinuses, making regular ingestion of spicy peppers a natural remedy for chronic nasal congestion.
• Capsaicin is also a natural anti-inflammatory; blocking nuclear transcription factors produced when cells are exposed to free radicals and UV radiation. This anti-inflammatory reaction may slow the aging process of the skin by protecting it from the harmful effects of the sun.
• Spicy peppers have been shown to increase metabolism and burn fat by increasing the body’s core temperature.
• While research is in the early stages, there are studies that show eating spicy peppers could have the potential to prevent or decelerate the growth of cancer.

Eating peppers is obviously good for your health, but not everyone likes highly spiced food or even knows how to cook with them. Jalapenos are a good, flavorful and milder pepper with just a bit of kick. The seeds carry most of the heat and beneficial capsaicin, and while you wouldn’t want to remove them completely, you can control how many are added to your recipes. Those whose tastes linger on the spicier side might like cayenne or even habaneros.

Ideas for adding peppers to your diet include:

• Chop finely and add to cottage cheese or light sour cream to make a dip for veggies.
• Serve baked Chile Relleno alongside your favorite grilled meat, or as the entrée of a lighter meal.
• Mix garden fresh tomatoes, onion and cilantro with diced jalapeno. Add a little olive oil and red wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. This scrumptious fresh salsa is perfect on tacos, burritos, quesadillas and tortilla chip; it’s also wonderful eaten by itself.
• Stir fry sliced Anaheim peppers, jalapenos or poblano with a variety of your favorite vegetables in a bit of olive oil. Flavor with an Asian wok sauce and serve over brown rice.
• Saute finely diced peppers and add to soups, stews and chili to taste.
• Spice up your turkey and avocado or BLT sandwiches with pickled pepper rings.
• Make irresistible fiery turkey burgers by topping with low-fat pepper jack cheese and jalapeno slices.

Spice up your life, and discover the tremendous flavor and health benefits of hot peppers.